Meter testing plug



Aug. 6, 1940. w. J. LARsoN METER TESTING PLUG Filed Aug. 29, 1939 /NVNTOA7 M Patented Aug. 6, 1940K4 PATENT OFFICE METER TESTING PLUG Werner J. Larson, signor to The West Hartford, Conn., as- States Company,

Hartford,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 29,

Claims.

This invention relates to a device which is designed to be plugged into an electric meter for providing ready means for the connection of the circuits of testing instruments and the meter 5 circuits.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple and relatively inexpensive device of the character mentioned which is so constructed that it can be quickly applied to any common type of meter, especially a watt-hour power meter.

To this end the device has a frame of insulating material slidable sidewise along which are a plurality of boxes of insulation that carry conducting plug terminals and conducting leads, the boxes being freely movable so that the terminals carried thereby may be instantly spaced to register with the terminal openings of the particular meter to be tested.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 shows a rear elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a section on dotted line 2-2 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a section on larger scale taken on dotted line 4-4 on Fig. 3.

Fig, 5 is a section of a box and terminal taken on dotted line 5-5 on Fig. 3.

The frame illustrated comprises a rear bar I, a frontbar 2, and an intermediate bar 3. 'Ihese bars are made of insulating material and are spaced apart by bushings 4, 5,*and secured together by screws 6.

Spanning and fitted to freely slide along the front and intermediate bars are a plurality of rectangular boxes 1 of insulating material. In the iront and rear sides of each box are perforations through which extends a reciprocatory and preferably rotatory conducting terminal 8. The end of the terminal which projects beyond the front side of the box has a socket into which a conducting tip 9 of the desired shape and size is detachably inserted, and the end of the terminal which projects' beyond the rear side of the box has a socket into which the end of a conductor lead I0 is inserted and secured. An insulating sleeve II is slipped on the terminal to cover the joint between the lead and terminal.

Surrounding the terminal within the box is a spring I2 arranged to thrust between a washer I3, that is iixed to the terminal and a washer I4 that abuts against the inner wall of the box, in such manner as to normally tend to press the tip end of the terminal forward, but to allow the terminal to retract if sufficient force is applied to the tip. As the terminals are supported by the 1939, Serial No. 292,388 (C1. 173-324) boxes at widely separated points they are retained parallel with each other in all positions.

Secured to and projecting rearwardly from the rear bar I of the frame are pins l5 that are adapted to'be thrust into sockets I6 secured to a panel I'I, for supporting the device when it is to be used.

The number of, size of, and spacing of the terminal openings yof the several makes of meters may vary. In using the present device tips which will fit the meter terminals are inserted in the number of test terminals that correspond to the number of meter terminal openings and the boxesI carrying the test terminals` and connected leads slid sidewise on the frame until the test terminals will register with the spacing of the meter openingsand then the test terminals are pushed into the meter terminals, or should the device be mounted on a panel the meter is placed over and pressed down on the devices until the terminals contact properly.

The invention claimed is:

1. A meter testing plug comprising a longitudinally extending frame consisting of a rear bar, a front bar and an intermediate bar, said bars being of insulating material arranged parallel with each other and spaced apart, pins projecting rearward .from the rear bar and adapted to be thrust into sockets secured to a supporting panel, a plurality of boxes of insulating material encircling and tted to said front and intermediate bars and independently slidable thereon longitudinally of the frame, conducting rods with sockets in each end extending transversely of the frame loosely through perforations in and projecting beyond the walls of said boxes, conducting pins shaped to contact with meter terminals detachably inserted in the sockets in the ends of said rods that project beyond one wall of said boxes, flexible conductor terminals detachably inserted in the sockets in the ends of said rods that project beyond the opposite wall of said boxes and springs surrounding said rods within the boxes and arranged to press the pin carrying ends of said rods outward from the boxes.

2. A meter testing plug comprising a longitudinally extending frame consisting of a rear bar, a front bar and an intermediate bar, said bars being of insulating material arranged parallel with each other and spaced apart, a plurality of boxes of insulating material encircling and fitted to said front and intermediate bars and independently slidable thereon longitudinally of the frame, conducting rods with sockets in each end extending transversely of the frame loosely through perforations in and projecting beyond the walls of said boxes, conducting pins shaped to Contact with meter terminals detachably inserted in the sockets in one end of said rods, ilexible conductor terminals detachably inserted in the sockets in the opposite end of said rods and springs surrounding said rods' within the boxes and arranged to press the pin carrying ends of said rods outward from the boxes.

3. A meter testing plug comprising a longitudinally extending frame consisting of a rear bar, a front bar and an intermediate bar, said bars being of insulating material arranged parallel with each other and spaced apart, pins projecting rearward from the rear bar and adapted to be thrust into sockets secured to a supporting panel, a plurality of boxes of insulating material encircling and tted to said front and intermediate bars and independently slidable thereon longitudinally of the frame, conducting rods extending transversely of the frame loosely through perforations in and projecting beyond the walls of said boxes, with their ends on one side of said boxes adapted to contact with meter terminals, flexible conductor terminals detachably connected to the opposite ends of said rods, and springs surrounding said rods within the boxes and arranged to press the meter contact ends of said rods outward from the boxes.

Li. A meter testing plug comprising a longitudinally extending frame consisting of a rear bar, a front bar and an intermediate bar, said bars being of insulating material arranged parallel with each other and spaced apart, a

plurality of boxes of insulating material encircling and closely fitted to the outside walls' of said front and intermediate bars and independently slidable thereon longitudinally of the frame, conducting rods extending transversely of the frame loosely through perforations in and projecting beyond both end walls of said boxes and both edges of the bars that are encircled by the boxes whereby one end of the rods are free to be inserted into meter terminals and the other ends of said rods are exposed for the free attachment of test leads, and springs surrounding said rods within the boxes and arranged to yieldingly position said rods therein.

5. A meter testing plug comprising a longitudinally extending frame consisting of bars of insulating material that are rectangular in cross section and are positioned iiatwise parallel with each other and spaced apart, a plurality of boxes of insulating material encircling and closely tted about said bars and independently slidable thereon longitudinally of the frame, integral conducting rods extending transversely of the frame loosely through perforations in and projecting beyond both ends of the walls of said boxes and both edges of the bars that are encircled by the boxes whereby one end of the rods are free to be inserted into meter terminals and the other ends of said rods are exposed for the free attachment of test leads, springs surrounding said rods within the boxes and yieldingly positioning said rods therein, and pins projecting from said frame and adapted to be thrust into sockets secured to a supporting panel.

WERNER J. LARSON. 

